Tuesday, September 30, 2008

It’s a luscious chocolate custard resting on a flaky, almost salty crust, topped with a springy meringue. For me, it’s la pièce de résistance and whether times are good or times are bad, it’s always welcome and appropriate.

I can’t remember a period in my life when it wasn’t my favorite dessert. My family has always been pie eaters, but we fall into several camps: there are the peach enthusiasts, the pecan lovers and then there are those of us who prefer the chocolate. My mom loves the chocolate best so that’s probably why it’s my (and my brother’s) favorite as well. But that doesn’t explain why Mom doesn’t make it. Nope, only one person can make my grandma’s chocolate pie and that’s my grandma.

When I went to visit her in August, I told her I wanted a chocolate pie. That was no surprise—I always insist that she bake me a chocolate pie when I visit. But this time I was determined to document her making it so I could try and recreate it back here in NY.

She had all the ingredients spread out on the counter and then I saw it: her recipe card. I hadn’t noticed before that she uses a recipe—I always assumed she baked chocolate pie from memory. The old card was yellowing and splattered with spots. And it called for Oleo as one of the ingredients. What a treasure! Before we started baking, I decided to take a photo of the card and as the light was waning in the kitchen, I took the card out to the front porch to shoot it before she started cooking.
I ended up spending more time than I meant to photographing the card. And as I saw the sun setting, I realized I should probably go back inside to watch her make the pie. Unfortunately, as I walked into the kitchen Grandma was sliding the chocolate pie into the oven. Curses! My original assumption was correct: she did not need a recipe card to make chocolate pie. And I had spent so much time shooting the dang card, I had missed my opportunity observe her crafting a chocolate pie.

Of course, being a brat, I whined: “Why didn’t you wait?” She replied that she didn’t know how long I’d be taking photos of the card and she had other important things to do, such as baking another pie—this one apple. “You’re welcome to photograph me making that,” she said. She had, however, left me a consolation prize: I could lick the bowl.

I’m disappointed that I missed the chance to photograph her making a chocolate pie but at least I have a photo of her recipe card. I know that it’s not quite the same, but it’ll just have to do, until next time.

Ingredients for the meringue:2 egg whites1/8 teaspoon of salt4 tablespoons of sugar

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350° F.

In a saucepot, whisk together the cocoa, sugar, flour, salt, egg yolks, and milk.

On medium heat, cook while stirring until it bubbles and thickens, about 5 to 10 minutes. If it becomes lumpy, just beat out the lumps. (It will not get any thicker in the oven so cook until it's as thick as you want it.)

Remove the chocolate filling from the heat and stir in the vanilla and butter.

Meanwhile, as you make the custard, poke holes in the piecrust with a fork and bake it until it’s brown, about 20 minutes.

To make the meringue, beat the egg whites with salt and when they start to get fluffy add the sugar.

Pour the chocolate custard into the baked pie shell and top with the beaten egg whites. Bake it until it the peaks on the meringue are lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Serve warm.

Grandma says: “It’s real good hot, wonderful cold and you can even eat it frozen—then it’s like a popsicle!”

Yield:8 servings

Notes:All that's happening in the oven is the browning of the meringue. So be sure and keep cooking the custard in the pan until it's your desired consistency.

265 comments:

WHAT A COINCIDENCE. Just today I mentioned my grandmother's chocolate meringue pie, and the fact that she didn't have a real recipe. i'm making your grandmother's pie this weekend. I totally adore this one, even more than pecan. and that's saying something.

this looks just like my grandmother's chocolate pie. thanks for sharing the recipe. while i'm not such a chocolate fan as an adult as i was as a child... it'd be a great treat to bake for my father, to stir his taste memories.

i was excited at first because i thought we were going to learn the recipe, but then i was sad that we didn't. left me hanging! hopefully you visit your grandmother soon. i was looking forward to this pie! i love chocolate and i love good pies.. they're so hard to find... and the recipe card is good but i know from personal experience that those aren't always a true depiction. it's just the baker's innate ability to make something, you can't really put it into words.

I have never had chocolate pie. In fact, I've never even heard of chocolate pie. But with a story like this - and look at that meringue! - I don't know how I could possibly resist. Chocolate pie here I come!!

I found your site today doing a search for the recipe for Central Market/HEB's Love Dip. Who knew I'd find a fellow Texan in the search?? I live in Katy, which you will well known is just west Houston these days. We've lived all over the world (England twice, Norway, Caribbean (Trinidad & Tobago), New Orleans - sorry but that IS a foreign country in a lot of ways - as well as Chicago twice, Houston four times and a short stint in good ole Bay City) ending up in Katy after repatriating from London back in late 05. And my vanity plate on my car? TEXPAT - cause I'm a Texas expatriate!

Love reading your blog and the recipes (you did, afterall, have the Love Dip recipe!) and enjoy reading your Texas-isms. Living overseas for almost 20 years, we pretty quickly found our fellow-Texans and kept our "foodie heritage" alive and well. And if we came across a military family, we'd beg, borrow and steal to get actual MONTERREY JACK CHEESE! And I unashamedly admit that I am defined by my chicken fried steak recipe (and chicken finger recipe which is the same except for the meat). People have been known to BECOME ill so they can get that brought to them in pity!

So, hello, glad to meet you, and looking forward to what you have to share/write in the future!

I think we share a grandmother - mine makes a mean chocolate pie and just like yours, she always gets out the recipe card even though she doesn't so much as glance at it. My husband (who is not from the South and had never heard of chocolate pie) thought I was insane until he tried hers - now he's hooked.

OMG! Is your grandmother's chocolate pie cooked in an iron skillet? Cause those pictures look just like my Granny's chocolate skillet pie. It's truly wonderful to have something special like that in your life - a sweet and wonderful, giving woman who makes something so delicious!

What Mike said about penmanship! That card took me straight to my Grama's kitchen. She could have written that recipe out herself! I'm gonna give this recipe a humble try. One of my Grama's most memorable phrases was, "We don't have any butter, but we have Oleo." I loved this post! :)

Since it's my birthday week, nothing better than seeing a picture of my mother's chocolate pie. I tried to make it for Lisa's brother Jacob's wedding as one of the 11 pies and two huge Mountain Mamas that we made instead of a groom's cake. Alas, as usual, it wasn't up to Mother's, though she was kind and said that her's was runny, too, sometimes.

My Grandmother lived at Possum Kingdom Lake - whenever we visited she made a chocolate and vanilla meringue pie. I have a copy of the recipe she wrote out for me...it calls for butter, the size of a small egg!Such great memories.

I think I need to make a chocolate pie! And you should have your grandma write that recipe off for you -- it's not quite the same of having her card with all the spots and stains, but I've got several in my grandma's handwriting, with spots and stains I've put there, and it's almost like have Grandma in the kitchen with me.

Up in New England, where I'm originally from, the chocolate pie is the cream variety. A regular pie crust, chocolate pudding, and whipped cream. My Irish grandfather made a fantastic one. Homemade pudding, very dark chocolate, and real whipped cream.

Chocolate pie is my favorite, though I love all kinds of pie. I'll be sure to try your grandma's, it looks devine. Thanks for sharing this with us. :)

I was looking for a pie to make for a good friend of mine who helped me recently. He will love this, I just know it. It's usually the simple recipes that get it right.Been lurking around for a while...definitely my favorite blog. Thanks:)

The salty slightly salty crust is almost a must to make a good chocolate pie. It's the same reason we like things like caramel popcorn and nuts. Okay, I am going to go back to snacking on the bag of peanut m&ms' in my desk drawer. Hope the kids don't see.

WOW that looks sooo ummmy yummmy good ....My mom makes a pie kinda like that one it is called a fudge pie ( bigg emphasis on the fudge part) we like it hot with a big glass of ice cold milk ....if we have a reunion with mom's family and she does not bring at least three she is almost thrown out of the family ....lol and if someone is pregnant in the family then Aunt Minner ( my mom) has to make the lil mommy to be a pie for the mommy and then one for anyone else who might be around . lol thanks for sharing !!!

I always joke that the pie gene skipped a generation with me, both my mother and 6 yr old son hold it in the highest esteem. My mom uses my 'lil guy as an excuse to drop by with pie. Truth is I enjoy it too. :)

Wow. I've spent the past 2 hours looking through every page of this blog. 1. the pictures are AMAZING... great job2. the recipes look awesome ( being a fellow Texan that grew up on these favorites I know what looks legit as should any other Texan) 3. I'm soooo happy to have found them now. I'm at the moment in Norway as an exchange student and I missed the tastes of home.

I had totally forgotten about chocolate pie. I loved the version in my elementary school cafeteria, but i have a feeling this will be a MORE than adequate stand-in! I cannot wait to make this, Lisa, thank you (and Grandma!).

Your Grandmother's writing looks just like my Mom's did on her recipe cards. Wonderful story and amazing looking pie. I've always wanted a homemade chocolate pie recipe. Thank you so much. I love your blog. It brings back fond memories of my college years in Austin.

Your stories are as scrumptious as your recipes! Would you believe I've never tasted - or even heard of - chocolate meringue pie? What a deprived life I've led. This recipe looks like the perfect way to remedy a very pathetic situation. : )

Your story rings so true for me. My grandmother made the best banana creme pie! I would visit her and that would be my breakfast, lunch and dinner. She would always make one just for me. Little did I know that when she passed away so did her recipe and technique. I have yet to find a banana creme pie to match hers. Thank you for sharing and taking the time to at least capture her recipe card and thank you for allowing me to recall some really fantastic memories....

Being a good ol' Texas boy,I have had my share of chocolate pies.My grandmother made the best pie,of course.They were so good my cousin & I would always beg her to make us each one to take home,which she did with much love.Well now thats gone,God bless her,I have tried to carry on the pie making with her recipe but of course its just not the same.My wife says it could never be because its missing all that love.

I stumbled across your blog today & find it real enjoyable,thanks & I look forward to reading it in the future.

I litterally stumbled onto this site by accident but I am so glad that I did! You write so beautifully that I couldn't help but continue reading and your photos are so enticing that I could almost taste them. I can't wait to try some of your recipes in my kitchen, although I'm sure they won't be as tasty as if you had made them! Brandon from Nacogdoches, TX

Yes, Lisa's grandmother did learn by the Palmer writing method; unfortunately she did not master the quality of Lisa's Grandmother Fain. The chocolate pie tradition began as a reward for good grades or encouragement when a child could do better. It morphed into a birthday tradition as well. Fifty years ago the recipe was featured in a women's magazine, source forgotten.

You know, all Grandmas probably do have the same handwriting because they used to teach penmanship in elementary school. All the letters were usually arranged on the top part of the wall, around the schoolrooms, all in cursive swirls, first the capital letter and then the "little letter." There were also penmanship workbooks to practice in. I went to a lot of schools across the US and almost all had those letters going around the top of the walls.

None of my grandmothers are really pie bakers. I don't have the traditional, dessert-smelling grandma, it seems. Still, I want to be the pie baking grandmother one day. =D That recipe sounds utterly delicious.

My grandma makes a chocolate pie too and try as we might it never comes out quite the same when anyone else in the family tries to make it. I will definately give your recipe a go and see what happens. Thanks :o)

Oh my gosh, my hubby is literally going to go wild when he sees this. His mom used to bake this pie for him, and when she passed away, the recipe went with her. Every time we have pie, he talks about this combo of choc and meringue. Everyone always tells him to eat it with whipped cream, but he prefers the meringue. Ooooh, you are going to make him soooo happy!

What is it about Grandmothers? My baking talents comes from mine, I just wish she was of sound mind to know the amazing things she has passed down. The picture of your grandmother's hands holding the pie? PRICELESS!

I never heard of chocolate pie before I stumbled on Hazel Smith's recipe at http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1530331/05052006/id_0.jhtml last year. I made it because it was so easy, just for kicks, and gave the second one to my son's friend who is always letting him stay overnight. Yours is way more serious and looks fabulous!

OMG, just made this with dark chocolate cocoa powder and slightly less sugar(2/3 heaping cup). Oh lordy that's good pie!! We skipped the meringue part, neither of us like it that much. Still heaven though!

I couldn't take my mind off this pie for a few days, and today I finally made it!! It was great, especially the crust!! Next time, I am going to skip the meringue and just add fresh whipped cream. Thanks for the recipe.

My husband (from Austin) will die when I make him a chocolate pie. I may have sneered when he told me about chocolate pies in the past - I was thinking of big gooey slices at the cafeteria. But this sounds really good, I can't argue with chocolate custard with meringue on top. And thank you for the link to the piecrust recipe. I look forward to trying to overcome my piecrust disability.

This must be a Grandma thing. Her chocolate pie was my birthday cake for many years. It sounds like they had the same recipe. Since I tend to burn PB&J, I think I'll have my wife try out your (her) recipe.

Lisa~Ahhh pie! Fabulous pie! Is there anything better? Of course I'm in the apple and pumpkin camp, but peach in the summer! Oh and my blueberry cream pie is to die for. Funny story to that one. Guess you could say I'm the savior in the family for that pie. Now if only I could persuade you to send me a piece of chocolate. I've never had it.

Can she make a Lemon Meringue Pie?? Bet she can! Chocolate and Lemon...not together...Those are my favorites! Lemon is my husband's favorite. Your grandmother bakes like me! I'm a southerner,too...Tennessee!

I had to laugh. My Mema makes a chocolate creme pie--at least that's what we call it, but it looks just like that one. Yes, we're a Texan family. Mema lives in Beaumont. Makes me wonder if it could be the same recipe. I'll have to get a copy of hers to compare. . .

She's made this pie for years. And told each of her grandchildren that she makes it JUST for that one. With seven kids, she's got quite a few grandchildren. I'm a great grand. But my Daddy still firmly believes that Mema makes that pie just for him every Thanksgiving.

SWEET JESUS!!!!! I JUST MADE THIS PIE AND IT ROCKS!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Seriously people, make this pie...it is so easy and so yummy. P.S. I went fancy and used valrhona cocoa powder, yum!

Wow a chocolate pie, now that's to die for, I just love beautiful and tasty deserts like that. I would love and authentic recipe for Real thick American Pancakes.Well I've done some (see my site http://ricocoffeeshop.blogspot.com ) however I always thought real American ones were thicker. Maybe I am wrong. Keep cooking my fried. Maybe you would like to try some of my continental recipes.

My husband's family is from west Texas and he always begs me to make chocolate pie like the kind he grew up eating... well, my family hails from the midwest and are just transplanted into Texas, so I wasn't raised on southern foods... .I think I'll make his Thanksgiving with this put!

A few years ago, as I was going to an Antique Show in Round Top, Texas, I pulled into a hill side home with a large sign posted, Garage Sale. It seems the owner, an elderly lady, was giving up her home to live in an assisted living facility. All of her life long personal belongings were displayed in the yard, etc. Even an old "wringer washing machine". Since I love to cook/bake, I headed for her kitchen wares. Tucked among some dishes was a large zip-lock bag chock full of hand-written recipes on index cards (yes, stains and all) plus other recipes she had clipped from magazines, boxes, etc. My heart tugged at this and I bought the entire bag for a whopping 25 cents. I went through the contents once, and after seeing your blog and your grandmother's chocolate pie, this evening I'm finding that little bag and will relish going through it for the "Little Lady's" cherished recipes with a new perspective. Better yet, I will make some of her recipes in her honor.

Hi!I baked this pie today! And it was WONDERFUL. It did'nt look lite the picture so much though... I might not have cooked the custard long enough. Or maybe the ingredients are different here in Ireland from Texas. =) But it tasted so very good. Thank you for a great recipe and a great blog!

This is like my mom's chocolate pie. She made them often when I was growing up. I haven't had one in years and now I'm a homesick Tennessean. It's amazing what you take for granted when you're growing up and then move away and certain things take on a whole new importance.

I still have all my mothers and grandmother's recipes preserved in the recipe card book I gave mom when I was in 1st grade. Many of the recipes are "secret" recipes that have been handed down over the generations, some even coming from old Hungary originating with my great-great-grandmother. It's always wonderful to preserve these bits of family history.

The chocolate pie looks delicious.It looks exactly what i remember my Grandmother and my Mother making. I'm also a homesick Texan. I grew up in a place not far from Stephenville.I now reside in Kansas but my heart's still in Tx.I love your site keep up the great work

After a fruitless search for a pineapple pie recipe (one built off of a classic cream pie base), I stumbled on to this recipe. It looks fantastic. I'm going to give it a shot. By the looks of it, it looks just like my Grandmother Nanny's recipe: rich and chocolatey. Thanks for giving "Yankees," as my family calls pretty much any non-Texan, a glimpse of great Texan cuisine.

Only one complaint, though - oleo is NOT butter. It's margarine. In East Texas, where my family's from, butter and oleo are not interchangeable. Searching on the web, I found this: "Until 1952, U.S. law required that margarine producers use the name "oleomargarine" to describe their product."

I'm on a limited budget until my second job kicks in and I have been searching the internet (mainly food blogs) for recipes to make using ingredients that I already have or cheap, inexpensive meals that don't have a lot of ingredients to buy and I stumbled across your blog and clicked on your "Chocolate Pie" recipe. I made this tonight and was very impressed. It tastes delicious. There are a few more recipes that you have posted that I am saving (some for non-working night meals and some for quick meals). Thank you.

This is very very similar to my grandma's chocolate pie. I know hers is equal parts cocoa and flour though. She's the only one in the family that makes it and she'll be 99 next month, so I better ask her if she has that written down!

Hello fellow Texan! I can only imagine how you miss it. I love chocolate pie and family recipes. There's nothing like great food to carry on family traditions and create memories that last for a lifetime.

I stumbled upon this recipe while searching for a not-so-sickeningly sweet chocolate pie recipe. Thanks for sharing! I made this pie according to directions, but used my mother's crust recipe. Other than my egg whites weeping a bit (personal error), this was a really tasty pie that fulfilled my desire for something less-sweet.

I really loved the chocolate custard, and how easy it was to make... that is, I didn't have to run out for heavy cream or anything... I had all of the ingredients in my house. I think the next time make this, I'm going to chill the custard in crust and later add a whipped cream top, just to sweeten it up as an alternative.Again, Thanks for sharing!

I'm going to try this pie today and husband is in love with chocolate pies i'll let you know if he like's it or not my mother has my great great grandmother's reciepe box it's in excellent condition and it even smells like it has been a kitchen were somebody cooked constantly. Good luck ( keep that reciepe close to you heart Kim, North Caroina

I love grannies....and I love the pic of your grandmother's hand and the pot holder...I bet those pot holders have served your granny very well through quite a number of years. As a TEXAN currently living in France I search the supermarches for anything closely resembling the ingredients I need for good ol' home cookin'....and today I just happen to have everything for grandma's pie. Go Granny! Go TEXAS! Go PIE! Thank you!

I see you have a ca-zillion comments here. But I'm in Missouri and believe it or not THIS IS MY CHOCOLATE PIE RECIPE TOO! I got it from a lady who worked at our law firm until she was 86 years old!

I have to tell you also that I make this filling, pour it into a bowl and serve scoops of it over hot regular old baking powder biscuits! We ate "puddin' -n- biscuits" when I was little growing up in Florida, but my mom used "boxed cook puddin'". Preferring scratch cooking, I now use this recipe when I want "puddin -n- biscuits! You have to try it. But, serve it warm! Cold doesn't do it justice!

I'm going to make the pie this weekend. I've been searching for a good chocolate pie recipe for my book discussion group when we read "The Help" by Kathryn Strockett. A chocolate pie is mentioned in the book, with hilarious results. Thanks for posting this wonderful recipe.

I found your blog accidentally, while looking for a chocoalate pie recipe. It is amazing with all the recipes on the net how few there are for plain old chocolate pie. And I am stunned, after reading through these posts, that there are people who have never heard of chocolate pie. What a shame.

Well, I tried another recipe first and it failed. I am a fairly decent cook and chocolate pie was a request from my husband, so in my eyes, failure was not an option. I was determined to get it right. When I tried your recipe he said, "You got it". Thank you so much for posting your story and your recipe. To my surprise the story was as good as the pie. Funny how home cookin' can be as good as a good story. At least it can when it's southern.

Now, on your next trip home, if you could video your Grandma making her crust (I KNOW they're homemade) and post it on youtube, that would be great. My crusts taste good, but are NOT pretty! I need a Grandma's help!

Wow, now that I have discovered this site, I can't seem to leave. I guess nothing I need to do will get done today. Great posting! The pie sounds divine but the recipe card was the piece de resistance. I love looking from my mother-in-laws 1950's Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. She has recipes clipped inbetween the pages from friends and newpaper articles. It's a treat to use it. My mother still has a cookbook that her mom used where you were told to use a pinch of this and a handfull of that! Speaking of my mother, she made a sinfully rich chocolate pie which was made with honey not sugar. She can't remember the recipe any longer and I was wondering if anyone out there knew of one. She made hers with a graham cracker crust but a regular crust would be fine too. I love it one person in the family reigns supreme over a recipe. My Aunt "E" makes the most incredible coconut cream pie you ever put in your mouth and no one else in the family will even try. We all fight over getting her to make one when we get together. The problem is we all want OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL PIE not just a piece. Now I really need to go do something productive!

I made this pie last night. At first i thought I didn't do it right, but a few more minutes in the oven and it looked GREAT!!..and best of all..it tastes AMAZING!!! thanks so much for posting this!...I will be following you on your baking journeys :D

hey!I stumbled on this looking for a recipe to use up a glut of Baker's chocolate in my freezer.. made it three days ago and it disappeared into my kitchen...though there are only three of us currently home. so I made another yesterday that turned out even better! (I used cocoa).

Greetings from San Antonio. I stumbled across your blog looking at the bacon jam recipe. The chocolate pie recipe is the one that definately caught my attention. I swear we could be related. Aside from a minor difference in the amount of milk and butter, this is the same recipe that has been passed through my family for at least four generations. Thanks for posting it. I definately want to try out some of your other recipes and you've managed to convince me that I need to check out the Central Market here!

I would like to tell you THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart because growing up both of my parents had to work long hours to [put food on the table which meant I learned to cook at a very young age my grandma showed me everything I know I love to bake but, before she died I din't have a chance to get her pie recipes. When I tried this my eyes watered up it was like I was sitting in her kitchen eating her chocolate pie. I am 25 & I have 2 boys 7 & 3 they are always "helping" me bake which we know that means they fight over the spoon & bowl. If you have recipes for sweet potato & pecan pie that you would ike to share my email address is roylpeanut@windstream.net i would be very grateful & thank you again for letting that piece of life come back to me

I echo the sentiments of others here, "Do we have the same Grandma, or what?!" The recipe sounds, and looks, just like the one my grandmother used to use too. Thanksgiving's just around the corner and my Grandmother was always responsible for the chocolate pie. Every year her first comment upon arrival was, "I don't think it turned out this year. It's just not gonna be as good." Every year it was FABULOUS! She passed about 15 years ago, and to this day when we make this pie, you have to say her statement! It doesn't matter which of us bakes the pie, it won't turn out without "THE Statement".I have fallen in love with your site and recipes. I am a Texan living in the Seattle area for awhile. No Tex-Mex up here either. Your recipes have encouraged me to cook my heritage again. Thank you so very much for taking the time to share with ALL of us.

Kevon, I LOVED your pie story. We go through that same scenerio with my Aunt and her "famous" coconut pie. It's "never as good as the last one" and yet we are all fighting one another over getting an extra piece. We are lucky enough to still have her with us and I have no idea if anyone in the family has the "courage" to ever try and duplicate the type of PIE PERFECTION she has given us for so many years. We are all so lucky to have such good food memories!

Hello :) I've been visiting your blog for over two years now but never tried any of you recipes till now (I look at recipes far more than actually cooking them). Your chocolate pie was one of the first things that caught my eye and I've had it in my 'to try' folder for ages. I finally did make it and it was gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing such a lovely recipe. The best part was it was so easy and quick to put together and looked so attractive! I am looking forward to trying out your other pies.

I made your grandma's recipe today for my family. It is beyond delicious! My grandma was the "pie maker" in the family and she would have loved this! My meringue didn't turn out the greatest, but I don't have a lot of experience yet with meringue. Thank you for sharing her recipe. :)

THANK YOU so much for this receipe and the wonderful story that goes along with it. I wanted to try and make my grandmother's pie and stumbled onto your blog and love it! I don't know if this is strange, but the story of your grandmother made me cry. I lost my grandmother in 04 and still miss her so much! she was famous for a lot of things but most for her chocolate pie, i tried many times to learn how to make it and i didn't pay close enough attention and now she is gone and it was really not written down anywhere. she could make two pies in about 20 min, sounds like your grandmother is the same way. this receipe sounds close and can't wait to make it today. thanks again so much!

That recipe card brought a tear to my eye. It could have come right from my grandma's recipe box - bless her soul. How I miss her and wish I'd gotten so many recipes from her.I made this recipe, and it was just as wonderful as hers. Delicious and nostalgic. Thanks.

My Grandma passed when I was 19. I have several of her recipe boxes full of recipes...she was a cake baker by trade but just a wonderful cook in general. My husband's grandmother made a chocolate pie like this and I had her come and we baked several chocolate pies over a weekend. She stirred and stirred her cocoa and flour until there were no lumps what so ever....smooth as silk. I am making one tonight for my hubby!!

First off..in reply to Stellatex..when I read your comment I just burst out laughing..short, sweet and to the point! Second.. last time I posted I mentioned my Aunt Marie's Coconut Cream pie and I just wanted to share with everyone that I went back to Kentucky for Christmas and BLESS HER HEART she made me a pie of MY VERY OWN! I had to whine a lot first but I got one and it was a BIG SLICE OF HEAVEN. (several slices actually!)We are all blessed to have these amazing food memories! Happy New Year to everyone and happy eating too!

Just did this and enjoyed it a lot! I was always scared of making it for some reason and this recipe gave me the courage to try, and it's so easy and delicious I wonder why I had never made it before! Thank you!

I'm a Texas ex-pat living in upstate New York..just made this for my book club as we are reading "the help"... boy it was easy, but I can't imagine whipping the merengue without a mixer.. like back in the ole days...it should be yummy!

I have fond memories of chocolate fried pies at a little diner in Snyder Plaza in University Park (Dallas). Your grandmother's chocolate pie filling and the blueberry fried pie crust would be heavenly!

Great pie! I just made it today and it was chocolaty goodness! I used whipped cream because it was easier and it went so well. I highly recommend making this pie! The only problem is that I can't eat dinner after that much chocolate.

Well, I found your site because like you, I one day "took notes" while my grandmother made her wonderful chocolate pie. (I didn't think to take pictures) But later she wrote me a letter about our day and included the recipe that I treasure and it brings tears everytime I see it. However, I cannot get my pies to thicken like Grandmothers. Nor does mine taste just as hers did. My Grandmother has since passed away. I am getting ready to attempt one today and I always look online to check other recipes to make sure Im doing it correctly. Today I think my Grandmother led me to yours! Thank you and God Bless our precious Grandmothers.

I've tried tons of recipes for chocolate custard pies, but have never found one that is this delicious! Most of the ones I've tried come out tasting very similar to having used a boxed pudding....needless to say, I've never been very impressed with chocolate pie recipes.

I used a mixture of 2 Tbs dark cocoa powder and 1 bar of semi-sweet bakers chocolate. The pie came out absolutely amazing!

WOW! I have never made my own chocolate pie before, but am a connoisseur of pie eating and chocolate meringue is one of my favroites!! This recipie was pretty easy to follow and tasted AMAZING! thank you!

OMG your grandmothers handwritting is just like my grandmothers I have been trying to make my grandmother's Chocolate pie for 2 years and I thought I might look up a recipe to see if I am missing something. The pie has won both years and this year I will conquer the pie.

I just made your Grandmother's chocolate pie and I have a few suggestions. Less sugar, it's way too sweet, bake the crust 15 not 20 minutes (I check my oven's thermostat on a regular basis, it's right on the money, and the final baking needs to be a bit longer unless you like a runny filling.

I made this pie as well and the center juggles even after 20 mins of baking.. needless to say I don't want to burn the meringue so I ma hoping it will cook some more while cooling.Not sure what I did wrong, I did double the recipe and I used store brought pie crust.I will try again and a gain though the slice you show looks heavenly.

Keysha--The chocolate custard cooks in the pan, not the oven. All that's happening in the oven is the browning of the meringue. So keep cooking the custard in the pan until it's your desired consistency.

My lovely Lisa,My pie was splendid once it cooled.I do believe I should have cooked it longer in the pot and I am glad you added tips to the recipe. It was great and was a nice solid pie when I sliced it after it cooled.Quiet as kept I just had a leftover slice from the 2nd pie I left at home. Thank you for sharing your grandmothers recipe with us.

Thank you. I made this for a boy who doesn't normally care for pie and had never heard of chocolate pie. I used 1% milk, and the recipe worked perfectly. I also left out the meringue and whipped some cream for those who wanted it. We had it chilled, and it was a hit and very filling. Thanks again!

I love this recipe! I am from Oklahoma but living in Germany, most of my family is from Louisiana, to say the least I've grown up with some amazing food! Today I was craving a chocolate pie and decided to try this recipe and it was amazing! The crust was also very lecker (tasty) and extremely easy! I will defiantly be keeping this recipe to use again!

Wow just made this pie and it looks delicious.....always bought box mix but when my friend and I were looking at pie receipes yesterday we found this one ..can't wait to taste it ..Thanks for sharing .. From Newfoundland Canada

My Grandmother was so wonderful and I miss her everyday. When I need to feel her close to me I put on one of her old aprons and get to baking! This Pie was a staple and it cured any illness, sadness etc. Unfortunately we were unable to find a recipe and so I am grateful to stumble across this! Can't wait to try it out!

I just made this pie and it's simply amazing. I've made several chocolate pies, and was astounded how simple this was to make. And the taste was so fantastic. Thanks so much for the crust recipe link too, I'd never made a pie crust with oil before and now this is the way I'm going to make all my pie crusts.

I was inspired to bake this after watching the film 'The Help' Not sure I got measurements right, had to convert cups to GB ounces and the mixture was a bit thick, but looks and tastes good so the more I make it the better it should get

I've not made a pie with this recipe (YET. The hub is not a "cream" pie fan) but OMG is the filling the bomb!! It's the best damn chocolate pudding/custard I've ever had! Your grandma's recipe rocks, and I'll make a pie out of it eventually :)

you really should have your grandmother make her own small cookbook just for her grandkids. My mother did this just before she passed away a put a small history of herself in the back. My brother typed it up on the computer and it is a wonderful gift she left behind. Just like this is a wonderful PIE.

Yummy pie recipe!! I made it for today's Thanksgiving, and it was so good! Thank you for sharing this recipe. I LOVE your website--I've tried a few of the recipes, and they are easy to make and taste wonderful. I especially love the personal stories you tell with each recipe. I think recipes, and the relationships and family stories surrounding them, are one of the real pleasures of life. Thank you!

I just made a chocolate pie from my great grandmothers hand written recipe. I either really messed it up or she left something out! I am going to try your Grandma's & see if I have any better luck! My Great Grandmother's tasted great just didn't get thick enough. We really did freeze it & ate it like fudgesicles!

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